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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

in thinking Children should never be taken to a demonstration.

58 replies

Tokyotwist · 20/02/2011 09:14

I keep seeing children in the crowds of demonstrators on the news at the moment.

While I support peoples right to demonstrate, I have never understood why anyone would take their child to something that could so easily become violent.

Even in the UK, I think this is highly irresponsible.

And I just don't believe that the child (particularly very young ones), have chosen to go because they strongly/passionately believe in the cause.

OP posts:

constantlywrong · 20/02/2011 15:24

YANBU IMO. I don't think it's appropriate either.

lesley33 · 20/02/2011 15:25

It seems to be those who have never been to a demo who say it is wrong to take kids. The majority of demos in the UK are very very safe. Obviously it is totally different in some countries abroad.

Whether a demo is boring for a child depends on the demo. Some will have people blowing whistles and chanting, whick kids enjoy. Some are short e.g. the 30 minutes march in my city when people were protesting about a leisure centtre closing down. The kids present seemed to be enjoying chanting and making noise as we went along the high street.

The boring bit for kids (and many adults, can be the speeches at the end of a demo). But you don't have to stay for them.

There are a small number of demos where it is clear before they start that there will probably be trouble. I wouldn't go near these. Most demos are not covered in the press and certainly not on tv. These are the ones where nobody will have been hurt or arrested.

usualsuspect · 20/02/2011 15:28

I took mine to anti poll tax demos all the time

BalloonSlayer · 20/02/2011 15:28

I don't see the problem in this country but I have never liked seeing very small children (eg too young to read or write) holding placards expressing something claiming to be their personal opinion, such as "Don't ruin my future" or "Where will I go to school?" That makes my buttocks clench . . . and you don't want to see that.

duchesse · 20/02/2011 15:29

"And she got to see a police horse do a huge wee" Englebert that would have a highlight for mine as well. They mostly just loved being allowed to walk up the middle of the road!

Abr1de · 20/02/2011 15:30

Lots of children and babies went on the Countryside Alliance march, I remember.

I hear what you're saying BalloonSlayer. I wouldn't let mine have slogans, if I took them when they were young. Which I haven't. In fact, I have never been on a demonstration.

ScramVonChubby · 20/02/2011 15:32

YABU

I would take my boys, certainly teh 10 and 11 year olds. They will be the victim of cuts for differnetr easons (one SN, one likely to be forced to be his carer if ssd underfunded) and I want them to learn how to protest adn actively want to politicise them.

NotHerAgain · 20/02/2011 15:33

poodlerockin, my experience has been that even in a tight kettle, police WILL let you and your child out ...
They are human too (even if the situation sometimes make it difficult to remember!)

Rosebud05 · 20/02/2011 15:36

YABVVVU and seem to have an inaccurate idea of what going on a demo involves.

I wouldn't take my two on the very local (and hence small) anti-BNP ones I used to go on in my yoof because they did get scary, but they've been on plenty of more moderate ones, or at least stayed in the moderate parts on the protests.

I'd draw the line at the roof of Millbank but the public sector cuts are going to have such a devastating effect on theirs and everyone else's future that it would be barmy to not involve them in it (in an appropriate way).

Northernlurker · 20/02/2011 15:40

I would take mine and be as responsible for their safety as I am for my own.

squeakytoy · 20/02/2011 15:54

I would just have found it very unnerving as a child being crowded in amongst a lot of people and only able to see their feet and legs.

If I took a child with me now, I would be scared of losing them in the crowd, or them getting crushed.

lesley33 · 20/02/2011 15:57

As a child on lots of demos I could see people all around - not just their feet and legs. it was never ever this crushed. I wouldn't as an adult go to a demo where I thought I would be crushed in.

The only time I ever as a child remember feeling crushed and scared is when we visited London and used the tube. As an adult I still find the tube during peak times much more scary than any demo I have ever been on.

Firawla · 20/02/2011 16:00

I have taken mine to demos and also been with other people taking small kids to demos, don't see a problem with it. generally you know whether its a demo thats likely to be fairly safe/normal or whether theres likely to be trouble, obviously wouldnt bring in the 2nd situation

HerBeX · 20/02/2011 16:03

Yes YABVU

Demonstrating is an integral part of living in a democracy. It's really important that children learn demos are not just for extremists, nutters and marginalised people (something a friend of mine who is a police officer assured me is the case, quelle surprise), they are for every citizen who is interested in having an input into how their society is run.

If you assume that demos are only for able bodied, adult strong young people who can run away from the police as fast as possible, you are buying into the message that the police and politicians would like us to believe, that it's only a few nutters who demonstrate and decent people stay at home dusting their anti-macassers and tutting at the neighbour's crooked parking.

duchesse · 20/02/2011 16:04

Hear hear! HerBex.

HerBeX · 20/02/2011 16:04

Oh and demos are a fab, fun day out for children as well. They walk (environmentally friendly, good exercise) they talk, chant, sing, play with other children on the demo, they have fun and they learn about issues of the day as they ask questions about wotsitallabaht.

HerBeX · 20/02/2011 16:05

And they don't cost anything.

starterfor10 · 20/02/2011 16:08

Depends on your point of view. We took DS to a Make Poverty History march (does that count as a demo) becasue we wanted him to think about the issues involved.

lesley33 · 20/02/2011 16:14

Yes it does count as a demo. Lots of demos are really peaceful e.g. demos around the country about the closure of libraries. I can't imagine anyone would think their children would be at risk at one of these.

lesley33 · 20/02/2011 16:22

I have been on 2 demos in my life that I wouldn't have taken children on. I didn't see any violence, but I wasn't surprised later to find out that some demonstrators had been violent. I didn't see any children at either of these and I think it would have been wrong for parents to take children to these.

But the word demonstrations covers a vast range of protest from very very peaceful e.g. libraries demos, the million women marches against violence to women, 80's CND marches; to mainly peaceful but need to keep an eye out e.g. stop the cuts marches ; to a high possibility of crushing or violence e.g. smash the rich demos or counter protests against BNP or EDL marches or gatherings.

Your original question is like saying that you think it is wrong to take children to sporting events. In the same way some sporting events have a high risk of violence or children being pushed and jostled whilst others are sedate and extremely safe e.g. village cricket match.

rainbowinthesky · 20/02/2011 16:27

I have taken my dc with me to several humn rights demonstrations. All been properly organised ones and never witnessed any violence. I think it's an incredilbly responsible thing to do. Quite sad that any one would think otherwise.

auntyfash · 20/02/2011 16:38

I've taken my kids to some demos, but kept then away from any I've thought might turn violent. I would never say take them to an anti EDL demo cos the EDL thugs can be extremely violent.

I like that my kids know what I am passionate about.

nailak · 20/02/2011 16:43

as a child i used to always go to notting hill carnival....lots of people threat of violence and polica action, is it that different#?

and as for the child killed in bharain that is sad.

wordsmithsforever · 20/02/2011 16:55

Interesting question - I went to loads of demonstrations as a teenager/university student as I grew up in aparheid South Africa. They were quite scary as the police could be violent and you went knowing you might have to leg it as fast as possible. I don't think I would have had the courage to take children to those specific demos. In general though, I think I would consider taking my DC - peaceful protests are important, but each situation would have to be looked at carefully.

Himalaya · 20/02/2011 18:04

Well said Herbex.

I would go as far as to say all children should go on a demo at least once, just like they should go to a polling station and watch, read and talk about the news etc...

It's part of what it takes to live democratically.

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